Robert Lance, 93, a World War II veteran, was welcomed at Dulles International Airport in Washington D.C. when traveled to the nation's capital May 16-19, with Honor Flight, an all-expense-paid trip honoring WWII veterans. Dennis McMahon

It had been almost 71 years since World War II veteran Robert Lance was in Washington D.C. The United States had declared war on Japan and Lance, a 23-year-old pilot, was in charge of flying a colonel to the nation's capital and told wait for two hours or two days until the colonel finished his business.

Last weekend, Lance, now 93, was the one being waited on as one of 50 WW II veterans from Oregon traveling to Washington with the Honor Flight program, an organization that honors WWII veterans with an all-expense-paid trip to the capital.

Honor Flight

Begun in 2005, it honors World War II veterans with an all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. to tour the nation’s capital and recognize their service. Veterans interested in taking an Honor Flight trip should apply online at http://honorflight.org/

apply/?s=OR or contact an Honor Flight Regional Hub. For more information, call 937-521-24

The group went to 12 sites in Washington, including the Washington Monument, the WWII Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. Each veteran was also presented with a United States flag that was flown over the Capitol.

More than 100,000 WWII veterans have taken a trip with the Honor Flight program, which was launched eight years ago.

"The purpose of Honor Flight is to take our living WWII vets on the trip of a lifetime to see their memorial," said Dick Tobiason, chairman of the Bend Heroes Foundation that helps manage Honor Flight hubs in Oregon. "Our WWII vets won't be around for much longer."

Lance said he joined the military as an 18-year-old to protect the nation from foreign invaders and safeguard American freedoms.

Growing up in Corvallis, Lance's family wasn't involved in the military, but he decided to take a series of tests to apply for cadet training in California.

He put his flying dreams on hold to join the Oregon National Guard, where he trained for two weeks at Fort Stevens. The group was asked to train for another two weeks because, as Lance puts it, "Hitler was kicking up a fuss." Lance said he was happy to stay longer. It meant he would make another $14, as the men earned a dollar per day during their training.

When war broke out in Europe, Lance went straight to Stockton, Calif. where he attended cadet training for 10 months. After graduating, Lance said his first assignment was in Fort Lewis, Wash., but he was hoping to be stationed in Hawaii where half of his graduating class went.

Robert Lance, 93, served as a pilot in the United States Military from 1941-46. This is a photo of his cadet group in front of a 0-52 Observation Plane. Lance is in the first row, third from the left. Courtesy of Robert Lance

"I've realized it was the greatest thing in my life going to Fort Lewis," Lance said. "I missed the attack on Pearl Harbor and I met and married my wife."

During the next few years, Lance served at military bases in upstate New York, Savannah, Ga., and Tampa, Fla., where he was the commander of a P-39 squadron composed of 16 planes and 180 men.

In 1945, Lance was a lieutenant colonel en route to the Philippines as a replacement pilot when the war ended, but that didn't mean his service wasn't needed. When Lance and his squadron arrived, they were directed to do maintenance at Clark Air Base, which included sodding the fields for six weeks and installing a recreation room and library.

"This was just part of my duty," Lance said. "This is something anyone would have done to get the squadron in shape again."

After nearly two years serving in the Philippines, Lance returned to the U.S. and went into the reserves.

With help from the GI Bill, he enrolled in the Optometry School at Pacific University. For nearly 30 years Lance was an optometrist in Hillsboro. He also served as a Hillsboro City Councilor from 1966 to 1974.

Lance said he doesn't talk much about his military days.

Robert Lance, 93, a World War II veteran, and guardian Tim Rosinbum at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.. Lance traveled to the nation'Âs capital with Honor Flight, an all-expense-paid trip to the nation's capital honoring WWII veterans. Dennis McMahon

"People don't normally ask," Lance said. "Most of the people at Avamere (a retirement community where Lance lives) know I was in the military. A lot of them were in the military, too."

Lance said he feels like the community does a good job of recognizing his military service and that he is thankful for the work done by programs like the Bend Heroes Foundation and Honor Flight.

Even though he enjoyed time spent at the museums and speaking with other veterans on his Honor Flight trip, it was the cards sent by a group of middle school students that left the biggest impression.

"It was so great see that appreciation from the kids, to have them say, 'I'm so glad that you represented our country and kept us a free nation.'"